Corn-harvester.



PATENTED MAY 5', 1903.

E W BURGESS CORN HARVESTER.

APPLIUATION FILED mm: 9. 1902'.

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'No. 727,080. PATENTBD MAY 5, 1903. E. W. BURGESS.

CORN HARVESTER.

APPLICATION IILBD JUNE 91 1902.

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No. 727,080. PATENTEDMAY 5, 1903;

E. W. BURGESS. Y

. CORN HARVESTER.

APPLIUATION FILED mum. 1902. now MODEL. 4 sums-sum a.

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No. 727,080. BATENTED MAY 5, 1903. E. W. BURGESS.

CORN HARVESTER.

APPLICATION FILED 1mm 9, 1902.

no MODEL. 4 SHEETS-SHEET- 4.

Patented May 5, 1903.

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ATEN

EDWARD W. BURGESS, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO INTER- NATIONALHARVESTER COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A. CORPORA- TION OF NEW JERSEY.

CORN-HARVESTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 727,080, dated May 5,1903. Application filed June 9, 1902. Serial No. 110,766. (No model.)

To aZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD W. BURGESS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and Stateof'Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inCorn-Harvesters, of which the following is a specification, refer.- cncebeing had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof.

Like numerals on the drawings represent like parts.

My invention relates to corn harvesters designed to cut one row at atime, wherein the corn is gathered, cut, and fed rearward in up- 1 5right. position to an automatic binderthat has its operative shaftsinclined forward from a vertical line for a purpose which will bedescribed later. I

The object of my invention is to improve the construction of themachine, particularly to the end that the rearward movement of the cornand its delivery to the binder may be facilitated and made morepositive. To attain this object,I provide a guiding passage-way for theunsevered stalks that extends forward of the cutting mechanism and inwhich the stalks are confined laterally and supported vertically. Thestalk passage-way extends rearward from the cutting mechanism and has aclosed bottom in rear thereof that inclines upward and rearward to anautomatic binder that is inclined forward of a vertical line. The stalkpassage-way inclines upward and rearward on its upper face, and corngathering and forwarding devices operate along its inner faces to gatherand forward the corn in an upstanding position to the binder mechanism.

In machines of this type it has been the practice to limit the rearwardmovement of the forwarding devices in their passage to the bindermechanism to a point forward of such mechanism for the purpose ofproviding a receiving-chamber in which the stalks are allowed toaccumulate during the time in which the stalk-passage is closed by theoperation of the binder arm or needle. In other cases the forwardingdevices have been constructed to yield laterally under pressure at thistime, and others have allowed the carrying-fin'ge'rs to yield underpressure and turn on their pivots backward relative to their operativedirection. I have found this receiving-cham her or storage-receptacleunnecessary in the successful operation of machines of this type. Infact at times it becomes an eviland operates to prevent a satisfactoryworking of the machine; .so, also, with the devices that yield underundue pressure. I have found it more satisfactory to provide apractically unyielding forwarding device that will carry the stalkspositively rearward beyond the forward limits of the path of the packersand needle. I also consider it advisable to place the binder as near thecutting mechanism as possible and incline it forward at its upper endthat it may receive the stalks as soon as possible after they have beensevered by the cutting mechanism and are still in an erect position. Ialso find it advisable to have the packers and needle operating inplanes that are inclined upward and rearward for the purpose ofassisting in lifting the stalks upward and reducing the friction ofthe'butts on the inclined bottom of the passage in rear of cuttingmechanism. In the drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of a part of acorn-harvester sufficient to illustrate my invention. Fig. 2 is a topplan view of'Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is asectional end view of Fig. 1 on line AB. Fig. 4: is a detached plan view of the butts-forwarding chains andcutting mechanism.

A suitable main frame 1 is carried by the main wheel 2 and grain-wheel3. Gatheringsills 4 and 4' are secured to the main frame 1 and extendforward of the same and are braced by the auxiliary sills 5 and 5 alsosecured to the main frame 1. A gear-frame 6 is mounted on the mainframel. A main 9o cross-shaft 7 is gjournaled in the gear-frame 6, andmotion is imparted to it through the medium of the spur-pinion S,deriving motion in a suitable manner from the main wheel 2.

A cutting mechanism" 9 is located between 5 the gathering-sills 4 and 4,toward the rear of the stalk passage-way 10, formed by said sills. Anautomatic binder attachment, consisting in part of a main frame 11,issupported by the main frame 1 in rear of the stalk pas- I00 bleward of adirect line rearward of the cutting mechanism for the purpose ofdelivering the bound bundles as far stubbleward as possible, that theymay be out of the path of the machine and draft-animals on thesucceeding round.

The binder-frame 11 is of the usual U form, having the upright tubulararms 12 and 13. The knotter driving-shaft 14 is journaled in the arm 12,located on the grainward side of the stalk passage-way, and theneedle-shaft 15 is journaled in the arm 13 on the stubbleward side ofsaid stalk passage-Way. 16 is the packer driving-shaft, to which issecured the triple crank 17, that gives motion in the usual manner tothe packer-fingers 18, 18', and 18 19 is the needle. The gear-frame 6has an upstanding inclined tubular arm 20, in which is journaled a shaft21, having at its upper end the sprocket-wheel 22 and at its lower endthe bevel-pinion 23, engaging with the bevel-wheel 24, secured to themain cross-shaft 7. Secured to the packer-shaft is the sprocket-wheel25, and a sprocket-chain 26 transmits motion from the shaft 21 to thepacker-shaft 16, and this communicates motion to the various operativeparts of the binder mechanism in a well-known manner.

The gear-frame 6 is provided with upstand ing tubular arms 27 and 27,located upon opposite sides of the stalk passage- Way 10. These arms areparallel with a vertical longitudinal plane, but are inclined forward ofa transverse vertical plane at their upper ends. They form bearings forshort shafts 28 and 28, that have sprocket-wheels 29 and 29 secured ontheir upper ends, and bevel-pinions 30 and 30 secured on their lowerends and engaging with bevel-pinions 31 and 31', secured to cross-shaft7. Upon opposite sides of the stalk passage-way 10 and near the level ofand approximately in line with the cutting mechanism 9 are locatedidler-sprockets 32 and 32', having their supporting stud-axles inclinedforward and upward substantially parallel with the tubular arms 27 and27. Sprocket-chains, having carrying-fingers at intervals in theirlengths, connect the two pairs of sprocket-wheels 29 and 32 and 29' and32 and are called the butts-forwarding chains. (Shown in Figs. 1 and 4.)33 in Figs. 3 and 4 represents the preferred form of thecarrying-fingers, they being made integral with the links. Secured tothe main frame 1 on opposite sides are vertical pipes 34 and 34 and 35and 35. 36 and 36' are inclined rails upon opposite sides of the stalkpassage-way, parallel with the buttsforwarding chains and having aportion at their upper ends curved inward into the passage-way forthepurpose of stripping the stalks from the carrying-fingers. These upperends are then bent outward and secured to the vertical pipes 34 and 34.

The sprocket-wheels 29 and 29 have the upper ends of their hubs providedwith one or more ribs or teeth adapted to engage with clutch members 37and 37, secured to the lower ends of the inclined shafts 3S and 38. Nearthe upper ends of the vertical pipes 34, 34, 35, and 35 are securedbrackets 39, 39', 39 and 39 To these brackets are secured pipes 40 and40 upon opposite sides of the passage-way and at substantially rightangles to the inclined shafts 38 and 38. To the forward ends of thepipes 40 and 40' are secured upstanding tubular arms '41 and 41'. Atsubstantially right angles thereto short shafts are journaled in thearms 41 and 41, and to the upper and lower ends of these shafts aresecured sprocket-wheels 42, 42', and 43 and 43, respectively. To therear ends of pipes 40 and 40 are secured the upstanding tubular arms44and 44',parallel with the arms 41 and 41. In these arms are journaledshort shafts that have sprocket-wheels 45 and 45 and 46 and 46, securedon their upper and lower ends, respectively. Near the upper ends of theinclined shafts 38 and 38 are secured sprocket-wheels 47 and 47'. Theends of said shafts are journaled in bearing-blocks 48 and 48', securedto the pipes 40 and 40, respectively. Near the forward ends of thegathering-sills and on opposite sides of the stalk passage-way arejournaled idlersprockets 49 and 49'. These sprockets are adjustable onbrackets secured to angle-steel rails that extend from near the pointsof the gathering-sills rearward and upward to substantially the level ofthe binder-needle. The rails are inclined inward and upward for a shortdistance and then rearward and upward, forming a passage-way from therear forward with parallel sides for a portion of its length and thenflaring outward toward the forward ends of the gathering-sills, as shownin Fig. 2. At points on said rails where they begin to angle outward arepivoted idler-wheels 50 and 50, with flanges on their lower sides, andnear their upper ends are journaled similar idlers 51 and 51'. Mountedupon idler sprocket-wheels 49 and 49 and'sprocket-wheels 46 and 46 atthe lower ends of counter-shafts in tubular arms 44 and 44 and supportedby idlers 50 and 50 and 51 and 51 are sprocket-chains havingcarrying-fingers, like that shown in Fig. 4, at intervals in theirlengths. Mounted upon sprocket-Wheels 42 and 42' and 45 and 45' areother sprocket-chains with carrying-fingers. Near the sprocket-wheels 45and 45 are located idler-Wheels 52 and 52, similar to idlerwheels 51 and51. These idlers are adjustably supported on brackets 53 and 53, securedto the pipes 40 and 40 and designed to guide the inner sides of thechains at their delivery ends and by adjusting them inward or outward todiminish or increase the width of the stalk passage-way. The said innersides of these chains are held against lateral movement between thesprockets by guiderails 54 and 54, that are adjustable with the idlers52 and 52. Motion is imparted to these several chains bydriving-sprockets 47 and 47 at the upper ends of the inclineddrivingshafts 38 and 38' by means of the sprocketchain connectionbetween said sprocketwheels and sprocket-wheels 43 and 43, as shown inFig. l.

The uppermost carrying-chains are called the tops-forwarding chains, thelower car rying-chains are called the butts-forwarding chains, and themiddle or long carryingchains are called the gathering and forwardingchains.

The receiving ends of the tops-forwarding chains are substantially inline with the ver-- tical plane of the cutting mechanism, and theirdelivery ends extend to and beyond the forward limits of the packers andneedle of the bindingmechanisin. The receiving ends of thebutts-forwarding chains are in advance of the cutting mechanism andtheir delivery ends are in rear of the forward path of the packers andneedle, as shown in Fig. l. The receiving ends of the gathering andforwarding chains are carried as near the points of the gathering-sillsas practical, and their delivery ends coincide with the delivery ends ofthe tops-forwarding chains. The outer members of these gathering andforwarding chains are supported by rails 55 and55, as shown in Fig. 3,.and their inner members are held against lateral deflection by the bars56 and 56, secured to the angle-steel rails, also shown in Fig. 3.

Houn ted upon the in wardly-cu rved ends of the vertical pipes 34, 34,35, and 35 are suitable bracket-s that support the inwardly anddownwardly flaring boards 57 and 57, that are located above thetops-forwarding chains. From the outer ends of the gathering-sills andextending upward and rearward are other boards flaring inward anddownward that are joined to the upper board 57 and 57,

as shown in side elevation in Fig. 1. In rear of the cutting mechanismis hinged a buttsupporting chute 58, that supports the butts of thestalks after they are severed by the cutting mechanism and while theyare being forwarded to the binder mechanism.

The operation is as follows: The stalks are guided by thelaterally-closed passage-way to the cutting mechanism, extending acrossit, and any that are leaning or fallen are picked up by thecarrying-fingers on the forwardingchains and held upright and carriedrearward. The butts-forwarding chains engage with the stalks as soon asthey are severedand carry them rearward and upward to the bindermechanism, while the tops are supported and carried rearward by thetops-for- 1. In a corn-harvester, the combination offorwardly-projecting gathering-prongs forming a passage-wayforthe cornfrom front to rear, an upright automatic binder at the rear of saidpassage-way, comprising a needle and packers, a cutting mechanism, cornengaging and conveying devices extending from near the forward end ofthe gathering-prongs rearward and upward to a pointrsubstantially levelwith and in rear of the operative path of the needle, and auxiliary cornengaging and conveying devices located above and parallel with thefirst-named conveying devices and extending from a point approximatelyin the same transverse vertical plane as the cutting mechanism to apoint substantially in the vertical transverse plane of the rear end ofthe first-named conveying devices,substantial-ly as shown and described.

2. In a corn-harvester, the combination of forwardly-projectinggathering-prongs form- .ing a passage-way for the corn from front torear, an upright automatic binder at the rear of said passage-way,comprising a needle and packers, a cutting mechanism, corn engaging andforwarding chains consisting of plain links interspersed with linkshaving fixed carrying-fingers that project into the passagee way andoperate. to. convey the corn along said passage-way, saidconveying-chains extending from a point near the forward ends of thegathering-pron gs rearward and upward to a point substantially levelwith and in rear of the operative path of the needle, and auxiliary cornengaging and forwarding chains located above and parallel with thefirstnamed conveying-chains and extending from a point approximately inthe same transverse vertical plane as the cutting mechanism to a pointsubstantially in the vertical transverse plane of the rearward end ofthe first-named conveyer-chains, substantially as shown and described.

3. In a corn-harvester, the combination of a cutting mechanism, anupright automatic binder comprising packers and a needle, alaterally-confined corn passage-way having its bottom closed between thecutting mechanism and the binder, engaging and conveying chains for thebutts of the corn extending to a point in rear of the operative path ofthe packers and needle, other engagingand conveying chains for the topsof the corn extending to a point in rear of the rearwardend of thebutts-chains, the inner members of the tops-chains operating close tothe operative path of the needle and to a point in rear thereof, andauxiliary corn engaging and forwarding chains parallel with and abovethe secend-mentioned chains and extending from near the transversevertical plane of the cut ting mechanism rearward and upward to thevertical transverse 'plane of the rear end of the second-mentionedchains, substantially as shown and described.

4. In a corn-harvester, the combination of cutting mechanism, an uprightautomatic binder comprising packers and a needle, a support for thebutts of the stalks inclined upward and rearward and extending from thecutting mechanism to the binder, upright shafts on opposite sides of thepassage-way in rear of the cutting mechanism and inclined forward atsubstantially right angles with the support for the butt-s,sprocket-wheels near the lower ends of said shafts, butts-forwardingchains connecting said sprocketwheels with other sprocket-wheels locatednear the cutting mechanism, said butts forwarding chains beingsubstantially parallel with the butts-support, sprocket-wheels near theupper ends of said upright shafts, counter-shafts in front and rear ofsaid upright shafts and substantially parallel therewith, sprocketwheelssecured to each end .of the countershafts, idle sprocket-wheels locatedupon opposite'sides of the said corn passage-way near its forward end,drivingchains connecting the sprocket-Wheels on the upper ends of theupright shafts with the sprocket-wheels on the lower ends of the forwardcounter-shafts, sprocket-chains having carrying-fingers connecting theupper sprocket-wheels of each pair of counter-shafts on opposite sidesof the passage-way, and like chains connecting the lower sprocket-wheelsof each rearward counter-shaft with the idle sprockets on the same sideof the corn passage-way at its forward end substantially as shown anddescribed.

5. In a corn-harvester, the combination of a cutting mechanism, anupright binder comprising a packershaft, gathering-prongs forming apassage-way for the stalks extending rearward from the cutting mechanismto the binder, a main frame supporting said gatheringprongs and saidbinder, a gearframe secured to the main frame between the cuttingmechanism and the binder, a main cross-shaft journ aled in saidgearframe, said gear-frame having two tubular arms integral therewithextending upward upon opposite sides of the passage-way, substantiallyat right angles with the main cross-shaft, and inclining forward towardthe cutting mechanism at their upper ends, a third tubular arm also atright angles with the main crossshaft and integral with the gear-frame,shafts jourualed in each of the tubular arms and geared to the maincross-shaft at their lower ends, the two first-named tubular arms havingthe upper ends of their shafts connected with the corn-conveyingmechanism, and the third tubular arm having the upper end of its shaftconnected with the packer-shaft, substantially as shown and described.

6. In a corn-harvester, the combination of a frame, a cutting mechanism,an upright binder comprising a packershaft and a needle shaft,gatheringprongs forming a passageway extending rearward of the cuttingmechanism to the binder, a gear-frame secured to the rear end of themain frame between the cutting mechanism and the binder, a maincross-shaft journaled in said gearframe, said gear-frame having twotubular arms integral therewith upon opposite sides of said cornpassage-way at substantially right angles with the main cross-shaft andinclining forward toward the cutting mechanism at their upper ends, athird tubular arm also at right angles with the main cross-shaft andintegral with the gear-frame, said thirdmentioned tubular arm and saidpacker-shaft being located on the stubbleward side of the corn-passage,shafts journaled in each of the tubular arms, and connected by gearingat their lower ends with the main cross-shaft, the two first-named armshaving their upper ends connected by gearing with the corn-conveyingmechanism and the third tubular arm having the upper end of its shaftconnected with the packer-shaft, substantially as shown and described.

In witness whereof I hereto affix my signature in presence of twowitnesses.

EDWARD W. BURGESS.

Witnesses:

FRANK J. DRYBURGH, EARLE J. BRYDEN.

